Federal effort underway to make Kingston regional rail trail hub

By Mid-Hudson News Network

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

KINGSTON, N.Y. – U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are seeking $11.3 million to transform the city of Kingston’s rail trail system by linking four regional trails in the city’s center, which they say would create a hub for pedestrians and bicyclists and improve accessibility for vehicle traffic.

The rail trails would link the Wallkill Valley, O&W Rondout, Kingston Point and Catskill Mountain trails, culminating at the Historic Stockade District and Broadway corridor.

The funding would come from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“The four major regional rail trails surrounding the city of Kingston end at the city’s edge and are frustratingly cut off from streets with car traffic,” said Schumer, “which is why I am pushing to secure the funding needed to connect them all together and make them more accessible to residents and visitors.”

“Making these critical improvements to the trails, sidewalks and streets would give the city an edge up and strengthen Kingston’s local economy and long-term sustainability,” said Gillibrand.

“The Kingston Connectivity Project will transform the city by providing safe, universally accessible alternatives for moving about by bicycle, on foot, and other non-motorized means while smoothing the flow of motorized vehicles Uptown and along the Broadway corridor,” said the city’s Economic Development Director Gregg Swanzey.